Solomon Islands - political parties
Six political parties in Solomon Islands have been suspended over their failure to comply with the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014.
According to InDepth Solomons this is according the Political Parties Commission acting registrar Glinson Galo.
"The parties failed to comply with section 51 of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014," Galo told InDepth Solomons
"Section 51(I) The Registrar shall conduct a review of political parties listed in the Register at least 12 months before a general election is expected to take place, in order to determine the operational status of political parties."
The suspended political parties are Youth All Urban Rural Party, National Transformation Party, Pan Melanesian Congress Party, United Democratic Party, People's Progressive Party, and New Nation Party.
Galo explained the suspension is for three months, and if the parties still fail to make amends, they will be deregistered.
Meanwhile, the government has been told to review and amend the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014 ahead of next year's national elections.
Papua New Guinea - power
Papua New Guinea's State Enterprises Minister says around $US56 million is needed to fix the problems of PNG Power.
William Duma said the problems were a combination of ageing infrastructure and incompetence at the State-owned entity, and the duplication of positions.
The National reported Duma saying Cabinet had approved a rescue package, and as soon as funding was available, it would be implemented.
He said by December there would be 'a better PNG Power'.
A management structure is being reviewed.
Tonga - by-election
The by-election to elect a new People's Representative for the Tongatapu 10 constituency will be held on July 13.
This is to fill the seat vacated by the late Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa who passed away in March.
On May 11, the writ of election was issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Fakafanua to the Electoral Commission.
This was after the Lord Speaker consulted with the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Lord Dalgety K C as required by the Legislative Assembly Act.
New Caledonia - stability
New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou says his administration needs another $US120 million from France this year to ensure stability.
Mapou gave the figure after ten days of meetings with ministers and officials in Paris.
Although a member of the pro-independence Palika party, he said he held discussions in his capacity as head of the collegial government made up of all parties represented in Congress.
Mapou said stability is necessary because of the difficulties now being experienced.
He also pointed out the need for technical expertise as the 1998 Noumea Accord is expiring following three referendums on independence from France.
The president said this applies to New Caledonia's civil and commercial laws, the strategy for the nickel sector, but also the overhaul of the entire electric power system.
Northern Marianas - marijuana
A lawmaker in the Northern Marianas wants most potential government workers to not have to face pre-employment marijuana testing.
Under Vincent Camacho's bill, cannabis would be removed from the testing list, except for specific employees like law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders, employees in safety sensitive positions, and federally funded employees.
Marijuana is no longer an illegal drug under Marianas law.
But Camacho said employees should still be subject to reasonable suspicion testing and post-accident testing, to comply with the policy that employees shall not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when at work.
Northern Marianas - trial
The criminal trial of former Northern Marianas governor Ralph Torres has again been postponed.
Superior Court judge pro tempore Arthur Barcinas issued an order vacating the June 5th trial date.
The judge said June 5 will now be used as a scheduling conference for all pending matters and a new trial date will also be set then.
Torres' trial was initially set for August 2022.
Back in April 2022, the Office of the Auditor-General filed a criminal case against Torres, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft.
Guam - archaeology
A major survey has explored the underwater archaeology of the island of Guam, which was fought over during World War II.
'The Past' website says the survey was conducted by a team of scientists from the US National Park Service.
The Service said the objective is to categorise submerged material relating to the invasion of the island, and to study how the war affected the ecosystem of the surrounding coral reef.
During the survey, conducted in January and February this year, the team identified a clear line of blast craters inside the barrier reef of Asan beach, one of the two on which U.S troops landed.
The team also found more than 280 'targets' they say 'warrant further investigation'.
During the second part of the survey divers will explore each of these sites individually.
American Samoa - re-opening
American Samoa Department of Health has recommended re-opening of early childhood and daycare centres, which have been closed due to measles.
The recommendation to re-open the centres from Tuesday (Wednesday NZ time) was presented at a meeting last week with officials of the Department of Health, Education, Human and Social Services and the Lieutenant Governor.
An official announcement is to be made after Governor Lemanu Mauga has been briefed .
As of yesterday the number of probable measles case in American Samoa is 58, while the number of laboratory-confirmed cases remains at 2.
Samoa - apologise
The Journalist Association of Samoa has called on the Minister of Communication and Information Technology to apologise over his treatment of a local journalist who works for the Samoa Observer.
The association released a statement after Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemoa asked reporter Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi to visit his office.
This was to discuss allegations relating to an American Samoa-registered vessel in Samoan waters.
The journalist allegedly ended up spending two hours in the Minister's office and faced a barrage of questions targeting her job as well as her employer.
The newspaper also reported that Toelupe also asked his wife and office staff to respond to questions the reporter asked him, in relation to the American Samoa vessel.
The statement condemned the actions by the minister as "unprofessional and did not augur well for the country's media industry".
Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemoa Photo: Office of the Regulator
